Sequential lateral capillary flow device for analyte determination

Abstract

A device for performing lateral capillary flow may comprise a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, said housing comprising an interior defined between a lower base portion and an upper portion coupled to the lower base portion, wherein the interior includes a region sized and shaped to receive a capillary flow matrix. A reservoir may be located in the upper portion of the housing proximate the proximal end of the housing, the reservoir having an inlet accessible from an exterior of the housing and an outlet in flow communication with an interior of the housing at a location above the region. The device may further comprise a support system disposed in the interior of the housing, the support system comprising a surface positioned in the region sized and shaped to receive a capillary flow matrix and in alignment with the outlet of the reservoir, the surface being configured to receive and support a capillary flow matrix received in the region. An elastically compressible structure may be located between the surface and the lower base portion, the elastically compressible structure being biased to urge the surface toward the outlet of the reservoir in response to a force exerted on the surface in a direction toward the lower base portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for performing lateral capillary flow, the device comprising:
 a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, said housing comprising an interior defined between a lower base portion and an upper portion coupled to the lower base portion; 
 a reservoir located in the upper portion of the housing proximate the proximal end of the housing, the reservoir having an inlet accessible from an exterior of the housing and an outlet in flow communication with an interior of the housing; and 
 a support system disposed in the interior of the housing, the support system comprising:
 a surface positioned in a region in the interior sized and shaped to receive a capillary flow matrix, the surface being in alignment with the outlet of the reservoir and configured to support the capillary flow matrix, and 
 an elastically deformable structure located between the surface and the lower base portion, the elastically deformable structure being compressible from an expanded configuration to a compressed configuration in response to a force exerted on the surface in a direction toward the lower base portion, 
 wherein the surface is closer to the lower base portion in the compressed configuration of the deformable structure, and is closer to the outlet in the expanded configuration of the deformable structure, and 
 wherein the outlet faces the surface and the lower base portion in the compressed configuration of the deformable structure. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The lateral capillary flow device of  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the support system is on a rigid plate. 
     
     
       3. The lateral capillary flow device of  claim 2 , wherein the elastically deformable structure is a spring. 
     
     
       4. The lateral capillary flow device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the lower base portion defines a cavity, and 
 the elastically deformable structure is located in the cavity. 
 
     
     
       5. The lateral capillary flow device of  claim 1 , wherein the support system is a first support system and the device further comprises a second support system disposed in the interior of the housing, the second support system comprising:
 a second surface positioned distal to the surface of the first support system, the surface being a first surface, and 
 a second elastically deformable structure, the elastically deformable structure being a first elastically deformable structure, located between the second surface and the lower base portion, the second elastically deformable structure being compressible from an expanded configuration to a compressed configuration in response to a force exerted on the second surface in the direction toward the lower base portion, 
 wherein the second surface is closer to the lower base portion in the compressed configuration of the second elastically deformable structure, and is farther from the lower base portion in the expanded configuration of the second elastically deformable structure. 
 
     
     
       6. The lateral capillary flow device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower base portion includes a raised area configured to support a portion of a capillary flow matrix. 
     
     
       7. The lateral capillary flow device of  claim 1 , further comprising a latching mechanism, the latching mechanism being configured to reversibly latch the upper portion and lower base portion so as to open and close the housing. 
     
     
       8. The lateral capillary flow device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion and the lower base portion are coupled to each other via a hinge. 
     
     
       9. The lateral capillary flow device of  claim 1 , further comprising the capillary flow matrix received in the region. 
     
     
       10. The lateral capillary flow device of  claim 9 , wherein the capillary flow matrix comprises a proximal flow portion and a distal absorption portion. 
     
     
       11. The lateral capillary flow device of  claim 9 , wherein the capillary flow matrix comprises bibulous material. 
     
     
       12. The lateral capillary flow device of  claim 11 , wherein the bibulous material is a glass fiber paper, a derivatized glass fiber paper, cellulose and its derivatives, a nylon, PVDF, a polysulfone, PTFE, a polypropylene, a paper or a derivatized paper. 
     
     
       13. The lateral capillary flow device of  claim 9 , wherein the capillary flow matrix further comprises a substantially impermeable backing. 
     
     
       14. The lateral capillary flow device of  claim 13 , wherein the substantially impermeable backing is made of polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(4-methylbutene), polystyrene, polymethacrylate, poly(ethylene terephthalate), nylon, poly(vinyl butyrate), glass, ceramics, metals, polyurethane, neoprene, latex or silicone rubber. 
     
     
       15. The lateral capillary flow device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a second reservoir in the upper portion, the second reservoir comprising a second inlet accessible from the exterior the housing, and a second outlet in flow communication with the interior of the housing, wherein the inlet is a first inlet and the outlet is a first outlet, and 
 a first rim surrounding the first outlet configured to press the capillary flow matrix in the compressed configuration of the elastically deformable structure, and 
 a second rim surrounding the second outlet configured to press the capillary flow matrix in the compressed configuration of the elastically deformable structure. 
 
     
     
       16. The lateral capillary flow device of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second rims are configured to press the capillary flow matrix with sufficient pressure to constrain liquid-induced swelling of the capillary flow matrix. 
     
     
       17. The lateral capillary flow device of  claim 15 , wherein the first rim has a first circumference, the second rim has a second circumference, and the first and second rims are configured to press the capillary flow matrix with substantially uniform pressure around an entirety of each of the first and second circumferences. 
     
     
       18. The lateral capillary flow device of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second rims are configured to increase an internal surface area-to-volume ratio at pressed locations of the capillary flow matrix compared to non-pressed locations. 
     
     
       19. The lateral capillary flow device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second reservoir in the upper portion, the second reservoir comprising a second inlet accessible from the exterior the housing, and a second outlet in flow communication with the interior of the housing, wherein the inlet is a first inlet and the outlet is a first outlet. 
     
     
       20. The lateral capillary flow device of  claim 1 , wherein the region is further sized and shaped to receive a blotting membrane over the capillary flow matrix. 
     
     
       21. The lateral capillary flow device of  claim 20 , further comprising a membrane guide configured to receive the blotting membrane so as to position the blotting membrane over the capillary flow matrix. 
     
     
       22. The lateral capillary flow device of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral flow capillary device comprises a plurality of reservoirs located in the upper portion of the housing, the plurality of reservoirs comprising the reservoir, each reservoir of the plurality of reservoirs having an inlet accessible from an exterior of the housing and an outlet in flow communication with the interior of the housing.